i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences 2026-27

Application invited for The i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences Admission 2026-27 collectively proposed programme by Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), DBT BRIC (iBRICs) and ICGEB.

The i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences

A need was felt to establish a nationally cohesive, interdisciplinary Ph.D. programme in biosciences to expand the scale of generating highly skilled, globally competitive human resource. It was envisioned that the trained human resource produced through this programme would be better equipped to provide bioscience-based pioneering solutions to contemporary problems relevant nationally and globally.

The main objective of the proposed programme would be to foster greater academic and research interaction among the institutions of the DBT BRIC (iBRICs), RCB and ICGEB (collectively called BRIC+ institutions), and to increase the professional networking opportunities for the Ph.D. scholars.

As a part of this programme, all scholars will undergo one semester of coursework physically at RCB, Faridabad immediately after joining. They will subsequently also undergo a 3-month field immersion programme following the coursework, before reporting back to their respective BRIC+ institutions for the remainder of their PhD.

Eligibility Criteria

Track I

• Indian students with 4-year Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree from a recognised institution in any area of science and technology, or a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree, or an equivalent degree are eligible to apply.
• An aggregate score of 60% or an equivalent grade in the preceding qualifying degree examination is an essential qualification (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC- NCL/differently-abled (PwBD) allowed as per extant statutory norms).
• All applicants must have a five-year valid national level fellowship such as the DBT-JRF, CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, ICMR-JRF, or similar.

Track II

• Undergraduation in medicine (MBBS) or in any branch of engineering from the non-biological sciences (BTech/ BE) with 60% aggregate marks in the preceding qualifying degree examination is an essential qualification (with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/differently abled (PwBD) allowed as per extant statutory norms).
• Age limit: 30 years on the application deadline.

Selection Process

Candidates will be shortlisted for interview. Shortlisted candidates have to appear online for 1st interview. Then for further shortlisted candidates will have to appear for Second interview at RCB, in person.

• The last date for submitting online applications: 8 June, 2026
• Intimation to shortlisted candidates for 1st interview (online): 12 June, 2026
• First interview (online): 16 June, 2026 to 17 June, 2026
• Announcement of results for candidates selected for 2nd interview: 20 June, 2026
• Second interview (at RCB, in person): 6 July, 2026 to 7 July, 2026
• Declaration of final results: 8 July, 2026
• Interaction of selected and waitlisted candidates with BRIC+ institution representatives (in person at RCB): 8 July, 2026 to 10 July, 2026
• Deadline for selected candidates to accept offer by email and pay fees online: 13 July, 2026
• Offers sent to waitlisted candidates: 14 July, 2026
• Deadline for waitlisted candidates to accept offer by email and pay fees online: 14 July, 2026 onwards (TBA)
• Registration, enrolment and fellowship activation of all scholars: 14 July, 2026 to 31 July, 2026
• All scholars report to RCB for the coursework: 3 August, 2026

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